Switch mechanism for cabinet



Feb. 18, 1969 M. R. KAUFFMAN 3,428,766

SWITCH MECHANISM FOR CABINET Filed Dec, 1. 1966 33 3 G-S MELV\N R. QXES'ZQA AN l\\5 ATTORNEY United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A switch mechanism for a cabinet having two doors. a carrierpivotally supported by the cabinet is moved into an operative positionby the closing of one door. A switch, supported by the carrier, isactuated by closing of the other door only when the carrier is in saidoperative position. Thus, the switch is actuated only when both doorsare closed.

Background of the invention This invention relates generally toelectrical switch mechanisms and, more specifically, to a switchmechanism particularly adapted for use with a cabinet having at leasttwo doors wherein the switch will be actuated only upon closing of bothdoors.

A switch mechanism of the type involved herein is particularly usefulwith an automatic dishwasher wherein it is desirable, if not imperative,that the access opening be closed before the dishwasher is operated. Theoperation of an automatic dishwasher involves vigorous liquid sprayaction within the dishwasher. If the spray action is initiated when thedishwasher door is partially open, liquid will escape from the machine.There are, of course, other applications wherein it is desirable toprevent operation of a device until a closure for the device has beensecured. Many devices have been proposed heretofore to provide sucharrangement for a single door; however, these are generally inapplicableto an arrangement involving two or more doors, both of which must beclosed before the device is operated. The present invention provides asimple structure requiring a single switch to assure that both doors ofa two-door device are closed before the device is operated.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a switchmechanism, for use with a cabinet having first and second closuremembers, comprising a carrier movably supported by the cabinet, a switchsupported by the carrier for movement therewith, means carried by thefirst closure member adapted to engage and move the carrier to anoperative position upon clbsing of the first closure member, and meanscarried by the second closure member adapted to engage and actuate theswitch upon closing of the second closure member only when the carrieris in the operative position.

Brief description. of the drawing 3,428,766 Patented Feb. 18, 1969FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE1; and,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the switch mechanismof the present invention in the condition it assumes when the doors areopen.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawing,and initially to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is illustrated an automaticdishwasher 10 having an outer cabinet 11 defining therein a wash chamber12. Cabinet 11 has an open top and is provided with doors 13 and 14 toserve as closure members to close the open top. Door 13 is pivotal abouta hinge 15 while door 14 is pivotal about a hinge 16 and each door maypivot, as shown in dashed lines in FIGURE 1, to an open position toallow access to wash chamber 12. It is anticipated that doors 13 and 14will pivot through an angle of at least and may pivot through an angleas large as to reach the fully opened position.

A dish-supporting rack 17 is provided within wash chamber 12 to receiveand support articles to be washed within dishwasher 10. Rack 17, and itssupporting mechanism including a support 18 extending from one wall ofcabinet 11, an arm 19 extending from door 14, and a link 20 pivotallyinterconnecting arm 19 and rack 17, are fully disclosed in applicationSer. No. 458,269, filed May 24-, 1965, now Patent No. 3,306,693, issuedFeb. 28, 1967, by Melvin R. Kauffman which is assigned to the GeneralElectric Company, assignee of the present invention. Because the racksystem is fully disclosed in the aforesaid patent application, andbecause it does not form a material part of the present invention, itwill not be described in detail herein.

Cabinet 11 has spaced walls 21 and 22 forming one side thereof and whichdefine therebetween a compartment 23. The upper extremity of compartment23 is defined by a top wall 24 which has therethrough a pair of openings25 and 26. Opening 25 is adapted to receive, upon the closing of door13, means in the form of an arm 27 projecting from door 13 towardcabinet 11. Similarly, openinng 26 is adapted to receive, upon theclosing of door 14, means in the form of an arm 28 projecting from door14 toward cabinet 11. When doors 13 and 14 are fully closed, arms 27 and28 project well into compartment 23 as illustrated in the drawing.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 245, there is illustrated acarrier 29 movably supported by wall 22 of cabinet 11 through a bracket30 and pin 31. Bracket 30 is rigidly secured to wall 22 and pin 31 iscarried by bracket 30. Carrier 29, in turn, is supported by pin 31 forpivotal movement thereabout. A spring 32 extends from bracket 30 tocarrier 29 to bias carrier 29 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5.

As can be seen from the drawing, pin 31 supports carrier 29 intermediatethe ends of carrier 29. A switch 33 is secured to one end of carrier 29to move therewith. Switch 33 may be a conventional micro-switch having ahousing and an operator 34 extending therefrom. Switch 33 is actuatedwhen operator 34 is depressed and may be of the normally open type,wherein depression of operator 34 closes the switch contacts, or may beof the normally closed type, wherein depression of operator 34 opens theswitch contacts. A flexible member 35 is secured adjacent one of itsends to the housing of switch 33 and projects out beyond the distal endof operator 34. The term flexible as used herein is to indicate thatmember 35 is free to pivot relative to switch 33 but is substantiallyrigid throughout its free length whereby depression or flexing of member35 anywhere along its length will effectuate depression of operator 34thus actuating switch 33. The end of carrier 29 opposite the end towhich switch 33 is secured, is provided with a projecting element 36having an inclined surface 37.

With the foregoing arrangement, closing of door 13 results in arm 27engaging surface 37 of element 36. This engagement and subsequentcomplete closing of door 13 results in carrier 29 being pivoted aboutpin 31 from the position of FIGURE 5 to the position of FIGURE 4.Subsequent closing of door 14 causes arm 28 to engage member 35 thusdepressing operator 34 and actuating switch 33. If door 14 is closed anddoor 13 remains open, arm 28 will not engage member 35 because carrier29 will remain in the position of FIGURE 5. Also, if door 13 is closedwhile door 14 remains open, carrier 29 will be pivoted to the positionof FIGURE 4; however, switch 33 will not be actuated due to the absenceof arm 28 from compartment 23. Thus, the present invention provides asimple structure in the form of a switch mechanism which will not beactuated unless both doors of a two door cabinet structure are closed.

It should be noted that arms 27 and 28 travel an arcuate path as doors13 and 14 pivot toward the closed position or the open position.Flexible member 35 is secured to the end of switch 33 facing toward thedirection of approach of arm 28 so that arm 28, in effect, encounters aninclined surface to facilitate engagement between member 35 and arm 28and depression of operator 34. For similar reasons, the width of arm 27is sufficient to assure that the distal end of arm 27 first encountersinclined surface 37 rather than an edge of arm 27 encountering the sideof element 36.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects ofthe invention are not limited to the particular details of theconstruction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated thatvarious other modifications or applications will occur to those skilledin the art. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shallcover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A switch mechanism for use with a cabinet having first and secondclosure members comprising:

(a) a carrier movably supported by said cabinet,

(b) a switch including contacts and supported by said carrier formovement therewith,

(0) means biasing said carrier away from an operating position,

(d) means carried by said first closure member for engaging and movingsaid carrier to an operative position upon closing of said first closuremember, and

(e) means carried by said second closure member for engaging said switchand actuating said contacts upon closing of said second closure memberonly when said carrier is in said operative position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said carrier comprises an elongatedmember pivotally secured intermediate its ends to said cabinet and saidbiasing means comprises a spring.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means carried by said firstclosure member and said means carried by said second closure member eachcomprises an arm projecting from its respective closure member towardsaid cabinet.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said switch comprises a housinghaving an operator extending therefrom and a flexible member disposedover said operator whereby said means carried by said second closuremember closes said contacts engaging said flexible member to depresssaid operator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,408,213 9/1946 Huber 200-61.69

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner.

